These pristine recordings from the ’50s capture Big Joe Williams teaming up with cousin J.D. Short. Both country bluesmen have idiosyncratic styles, yet they complement each other perfectly. Rattling like a broken-down car, Williams and his homemade nine-string care little for maintaining tempo or a consistent rhythm, but Short’s mouth-harp serves as a gracefully puttering counterweight. Williams handles the bulk of the vocals, including an enthralling “You’re Gonna Need King Jesus”, wherein blues and gospel intersect.